start 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈstärt How to pronounce start (audio)
Definition of startnext
1
as in to begin
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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2
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

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3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

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4
as in to activate
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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5
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

start

2 of 4

noun

as in beginning
the point at which something begins knew from the start of the game that he would win easily

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starting

3 of 4

adjective

as in initial

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Dissimilar Words

starting

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of start
1
as in jumping
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

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2
as in establishing
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of started the impressionist movement in art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in activating
to cause to function trying to start the car on a frigid morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commencing
to come into existence the fight started when one child tripped the other

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point frightened horses with starting eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in launching
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word start different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of start are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How is begin related to other words for start?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for start?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace start?

The meanings of inaugurate and start largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

In what contexts can initiate take the place of start?

Although the words initiate and start have much in common, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of start?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of start
Verb
However, there was a bit of an eerie coincidence that fans started to notice as the day went on. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 One of Omar Thornton or Bryce Fitzgerald is projected to be the team’s starting nickel corner (with the other starting at safety opposite Zechariah Poyser). — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2026
Noun
The states want a start of April 2027, while Paramount wants November 2026, and every quarter of the difference adds to the price of a deal already too rich. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Eduardo Rodriguez is now the lone pitcher in major league history with at least 250 starts and no complete games. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
But the Dodgers say his knee doesn’t bother him while batting, and the four-time MVP has remained in the starting lineup regularly. — ABC News, 25 July 2026 Sure, once upon a time, a starting lineup of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis would have beaten almost anybody. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Verb
Thomas says that starting around 2015, there was a lot of bad whiskey being produced as the category grew in popularity and investors jumped onto the whiskey bandwagon, charging premium prices for sub-standard liquid. — Don Tse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez will offer instruction in both Spanish and English, starting with preschool through first-grade students this year. — Anna Alejo, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
  1. begin
  2. commence
  3. establish
  4. activate
  5. jump
  6. protrude
  7. beginning
  8. originate
Verb
  • Joe Mack and Xavier Edwards added RBI singles later in the fifth for the Marlins, who began the day 2 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Arizona for the final two NL playoff spots.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The festival began as a seasonal attraction but has grown into a Kansas City-area family tradition centered on education and close encounters with butterflies.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • And so commenced a literally explosive weekend of celebrations across the five boroughs, which culminated in a ticker-tape parade on June 18 to City Hall.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026
  • Work commenced on the record three months after Drewchin welcomed the arrival of her first child, Nova, a period in which she was consumed with the reality and potentialities of being a new parent.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • City Directors Kathy Webb and Capi Peck requested the proposal to establish the six-month moratorium earlier this summer.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In 2009, Boko Haram, based in the northeast of the country, began a campaign of guerrilla attacks and suicide bombings, in an effort to establish a caliphate in the region.
    — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • However, Daniel Palencia will pitch at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and could be activated soon, resuming his closer role.
    — Greg Jewett, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • For organizations seeking meaningful ways to activate teams and elevate corporate culture, five actionable strategies can bring allyship to life well beyond a single date on the calendar.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • That jumps from his previous $45 million average and pushes him to the top of the quarterback market.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • The company reported record US production and said worldwide production jumped 20% year-over-year.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • At first, 17-year-old Khloe Aguiar didn’t want to climb the over 100-foot ladder protruding out of the fire truck.
    — Julianna Mejia July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • With its extended, protruding proportions and structural overlays, the colorway also features a glow-in-the-dark treatment across its TPU cage.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Her exit follows the resignations last week of acting Chief Financial Officer Steve Mahr and Deputy CFO Noor Shaikh in June — coming after CFO Jill Jaworski departed at the beginning of this year.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • For Jed Hoyer, trading Triple-A outfielder Brett Bateman and Class-A infielder Ty Southisene in Sunday night’s deal with the Blue Jays was only the beginning of a buying spree.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Test Environment Is Production The Hugging Face breach originated in a testing environment with external network access.
    — David Chou, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Beginning in the Mississippi Delta Technique and instruments The roots of Chicago blues are in Delta blues, an acoustic style that originated in the Delta region of northwestern Mississippi.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Definition of originate

Phrases Containing start

Browse Nearby Words

star-spangled
start
started
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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on start

Nglish: Translation of start for Spanish Speakers

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